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Abstract Yield-phenology relation is a critical issue affecting rainfed maize field productivity in semiarid east African Plateau (EAP). We first introduced Chinese ridge-furrow mulching (RFM) system to EAP, using three maize cultivars with early-, mid- and late-maturing traits as test materials. A two-year field experiment was conducted in a semiarid farm of Kenya from 2012 to 2013. Three treatments were designed: alternative ridge and furrow with transparent plastic mulching (FT), with black plastic mulching (FB) and without mulching (CK). We found that FT and FB significantly increased soil moisture and accelerated crop maturity across two growing seasons. Leaf area and shoot biomass were increased by 30.2% and 67.5% in FT, 35.2% and 73.5% in FB, respectively, compared with CK. Grain yield, water use efficiency and economic output were increased by 55.6%, 57.5% and 26.7% in FT, and 50.8%, 53.3% and 19.8% in FB, respectively. Optimal yield and economic benefit were observed in late-maturing cultivar due to increased topsoil temperature in FT in 2012 (cool), and in early-maturing cultivar owing to cooling effect in FB in 2013 (warm). Our study suggested RFM system, combined with crop phenology selection, be a promising strategy to boost maize productivity and profitability in semiarid EAP.

Objective: To explore the nursing cooperation of pediatric cardiac surgery by thoracoscopy. Methods: 30 patients undergoing thoracoscopy in a third-grade hospital in Yantai were observed and their nursing process was recorded and analyzed. Results: The good cooperation of operating room nurses and equipment nurses can relax the children and increase the success rate of surgery and reduce the occurrence of complications. Conclusion: Full preoperative preparation, close intraoperative cooperation, strict instrument maintenance, and cleaning and disinfection are the guarantee of pediatric thoracic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the application effect of constructing professional teaching staff in low-level training in operating room, so as to further optimize the teaching strength of operating room in our hospital and improve the training effect of junior nurses. Methods: Thirty-eight low-level nurses in the operating room of a third-class hospital in Yantai were selected for half a year's nurse training. With theoretical scores, overall nursing performance, nurses' self-awareness evaluation system and nurses' satisfaction with tutors as evaluation criteria, and based on the selection of high-quality teachers, various evaluation indexes before and after the training of low-level nurses in the operating room were compared and evaluated through the cultivation of practical teaching teachers' ability and the application of a series of teaching methods based on the change of competence-based education (CBE) teaching mode, the application of guided learning interactive canadian education (BOPPPS) teaching model and problem-based learning (PBL) teaching method. Results: After the training, the examination scores of low-level nurses were significantly improved (P < 0.05), the teaching quality was highly recognized by low-level nurses, the quality of low-level nurses was improved, and patients' satisfaction with nurses was improved. Conclusion: It is of great significance to assist the construction of professional teachers in evidence-based medicine. Through the training of practical teaching teachers' ability and the application of a series of teaching methods based on the change of CBE teaching model, the application of BOPPPS teaching model and PBL teaching method, the training results of nurses have been significantly improved and improved, which is worthy of clinical reference and promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins are major pigments in plants. Methylation plays a role in the diversity and stability of anthocyanins. However, the contribution of anthocyanin methylation to lower coloration is still unclear. We identified two homologous anthocyanin O-methyltransferase (AOMT) genes from purple-lowered (PsAOMT) and red-lowered (PtAOMT) Paeonia plants, and we performed functional analyses of the two genes in vitro and in vivo. The critical amino acids for AOMT catalytic activity were studied by site-directed mutagenesis. We showed that the recombinant proteins, PsAOMT and PtAOMT, had identical substrate preferences towards anthocyanins. The methylation activity of PsAOMT was 60 times higher than that of PtAOMT in vitro. Interestingly, this vast difference in catalytic activity appeared to result from a single amino acid residue substitution at position 87 (arginine to leucine). There were significant differences between the 35S::PsAOMT transgenic tobacco and control lowers in relation to their chromatic parameters, which further confirmed the function of PsAOMT in vivo. The expression levels of the two homologous AOMT genes were consistent with anthocyanin accumulation in petals. We conclude that AOMTs are responsible for the methylation of cyanidin glycosides in Paeonia plants and play an important role in purple coloration in Paeonia spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]